Precautions and Warnings With Primidone

Before starting primidone, there are several precautions and warnings to be aware of. For example, primidone can cause certain blood problems and is probably not safe to take when pregnant. Precautions and warnings with primidone also extend to those who have allergies to the drug; the drug should be avoided by anyone who is allergic to it. Also, people who are allergic to phenobarbital or who have porphyria should not take primidone.

Primidone: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking primidone (Mysoline®) if you have:

Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Specific Precautions and Warnings With Primidone

Warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking primidone include the following:

Seizure medications, including primidone, may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you feel depressed or have any suicidal thoughts (see Seizure Medications and Suicide for more information).

Primidone can cause drowsiness and problems with coordination. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you develop any of these primidone side effects, especially if they are severe and do not improve with time. Also, make sure to see how primidone affects you before driving or operating any machinery.

There have reports of certain blood problems in people taking primidone. It appears that primidone can sometimes decrease the bone marrow's ability to produce blood cells. Let your healthcare provider know if you have any unusual bruising or bleeding or frequent infections.

Primidone is considered a pregnancy Category D medication. This means that it is probably not safe for use in pregnant women. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of taking the drug during pregnancy (see Primidone and Pregnancy).

Primidone passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug (see Primidone and Breastfeeding).

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